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Hall of Fame - Monaachi
Original article written by Three Crowns Racing posted 11 years 0 weeks agoThe first foal out of the great running mare (and it would turn out, great broodmare as well) Sai Yah, and first grandson of supermare Shentaan; expectations for Monaachi were high. Though his dam’s side was proven; his sire, Galileo, was unproven in the shed. At the time of Monaachi’s first race, Galileo was yet to have a runner top $100,000 in earnings. Monaachi was acquired for $77,000 in the a TBS2YTS auction that included two other Hall of Fame horses (End of the Line and Laughterintherain) and a future Hall of Fame horse (Acapulco), talk about a great Steward’s auction!!
Owner Daryl Singhi could not wait for Monaachi’s debut, and he ran the large black colt in sprint races early in Y16. Monaachi broke his maiden first time out, winning with speed to spare at 6 furlongs at Futurity Park. He was shipped all the way to London where he faced the great Acapulco in the Listed National Stakes on just two weeks rest. Monaachi broke well and led early, but Acapulco was too much and Monaachi suffered the bitter taste of defeat for the first time, finishing 2nd. Three weeks later, and with fresh legs, Monaachi found his revenge, besting Acapulco (and Stop and Stare) in the Grade 3 Norfolk Stakes. It is hard for a newer player to believe that the great American Champion Miler had a short rivalry with one of the top routing sires at 5 furlongs, but early on in Year 16 Monaachi and Acapulco showed their speed in back-to-back clashes. He rode the victory over Stop and Stare and Acapulco to a victory in the Grade 1 Prix Grand Criterium over Pendant in week 14. Monaachi closed out his juvenile campaign by heading back to London to challenge Acapulco once again, this time in the Grade 1 Racing Post Trophy at 1 mile. Pendant held the early lead, getting overtaken early in the stretch run by Acapulco with Monaachi closing fast, but there wasn't enough track left and Acapulco came out on top for the 2nd time. It was a good juvenile year for Monaachi, going 4-2-0 in 6 starts, with $337,000 in earnings; beating horses like Stop and Stare, Acapulco, Pendant, and Vernacular (with his 2nds both coming at the hooves of Acapulco).
Monaachi stormed out of the gate in his 3 year old campaign, taking the Grade 1 2000 Guineas Stakes, Irish 2000 Guineas, and St James Place Stakes; all in dominating fashion. He then was bested by Pendant for the first time in the St Leger Stakes, and fell to 4 year old Duc de Berry in the Steward’s Cup Turf Mile. All-in-all though, it had to be considered a successful 3yo campaign, as Monaachi finished 3-2-0 in 5 starts with $1.5 million in earnings.
Year 18 (Monaachi’s 4yo season) proved to be the best season of his career. The black beauty went an undefeated 5 for 5, with hands down wins in the Grade 3 Arcadia Mile and American Handicap, Grade 2 Oceanside Mile, and Grade 1 San Francisco Mile. His only competition came in the Steward’s Cup Turf Mile, where he still bested Bound for Heaven by an impressive 2.5 lengths.
In Year 19, the 5 year old Monaachi ran an easier schedule, only running in 4 races. He cruised through the Grade 2 Makers Mark Mile and Oceanside Mile, and once again winning easily in the Grade 1 San Francisco Mile. In his final start, Monaachi faced off against the 2nd best 3yo turf router, Fleet Admiral, in the Steward’s Cup Turf Mile. Once again, Monaachi broke in the middle of the pack and mounted a feverish charge down the stretch, but it was not meant to be as he came up a nose short, breaking his 8 race winning streak.
Monaachi retired to stud and he was able to pick up right where he left off, becoming a top Turf Miler stud. His first crop included Stewards Cup Turf Mile champion Worth My Weight (sire of Alcide and Valued, the dam of Held High). His second crop consisted of multiple Grade 1 winners Menacing and Don’t. He also is the sire of multiple Grade 1 winners Disturbane and Light the Way, while also being the sire of Keep, dam of champion filly Always.
Not only was Monaachi one of the best Turf Milers of all time (he ranks 3rd in earnings and 2nd in points at the time of writing), but he was able to do something the other top Turf Mile runners were not able to do in becoming a truly great sire of Turf Milers, as he is the sire of top Turf Mile sire Worth My Weight, and many other multiple Grade 1 winners. This black beauty is living out his days in Europe and though his life may be in its twilight, his legacy will live on for many years.